I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

Lin Meijuan simply nodded slightly, said nothing, and walked straight out of the hall.

Hu Yuheng and Chen Dapeng followed closely behind.

Lin Meijuan reached her right hand into her pocket, tapped on WeChat on her phone, and then took her hand out again.

It was a very natural movement, and there was no clue as to what it might have been.

Upon reaching the car, Hu Yuheng opened the back door: "Get in."

Lin Meijuan bent down and sat inside, Chen Dapeng sat next to her, and Hu Yuheng sat in the passenger seat.

The car drove out of the airport and onto the highway.

Lin Meijuan leaned back in her seat, not asking where they were going or what would happen, and remained silent throughout.

Chen Dapeng found He Ying's WeChat and sent her a message: "Sister Ying, Lin Meijuan has been arrested. Director Hu and I intercepted her at the airport and are on our way back to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

He Ying replied immediately: "Lin Meijuan is the most crucial link. As long as she implicates Gu Huaiyuan, then she really won't be able to escape."

Chen Dapeng replied with a single word: "Mm".

Then, he added, "Sister Ying, our mission will be over once Gu Huaiyuan falls from grace."

This time, He Ying didn't reply so quickly.

When she saw Chen Dapeng's message, she wondered, "Is the mission over?"

It seems like it's over, but it also seems like it isn't.

Gu Huaiyuan has fallen from grace, as has Yang Xiujiang, and the "former leader" behind him.

However, the case in Liuhe Town first implicated Gu Huaiyuan, while Yang Xiujiang and that "old leader" were implicated later.

Their direct target was Gu Huaiyuan.

This person targeted her and Chen Dapeng repeatedly, and each time Chen Dapeng took the blame for her...

Two injuries, two hospitalizations...

After a long while, He Ying finally replied: "Da Peng, let's take a good rest after Gu Huaiyuan's case is over."

Upon seeing this message, Chen Dapeng felt a strange sensation.

He Ying didn't say "You should take a good rest," but rather "we."

He smiled faintly, silently thinking to himself: I need to take a good rest.

Both of them are exhausted, both physically and mentally, after investigating this case for so long.

There was another very important thing. While at the hospital, He Ying said that after being discharged, she was going to see her father, He Yi.

This matter was delayed because of his temporary assignment to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Chen Dapeng was getting excited just thinking about meeting his future father-in-law.

He replied with a single word:

"it is good."

……

Forty minutes later, Lin Meijuan was taken into a talking room.

The room was small, with a table, two chairs, no windows, and only a fluorescent light hanging overhead, emitting a pale white light.

"sit."

Hu Yuheng pointed to the chair.

Lin Meijuan walked to the chair and sat down.

Hu Yuheng sat down opposite her and opened the folder in front of him: "Lin Meijuan, we've 'invited' you here today to ask you to explain what you know to us."

Lin Meijuan lowered her head and did not speak.

Hu Yuheng didn't rush her, leaning back in his chair for a while: "We've already looked at the beauty salon's accounts. We're also investigating where those funds are going. Whatever you know, saying it now versus saying it when you're caught will have a different outcome."

Lin Meijuan placed her fingers on her knees, slowly tightening and then slowly loosening them, but still did not speak.

Hu Yuheng looked at her for a while, then closed the folder: "You don't have to speak. But I hope you understand that every minute you remain silent, you lose one less option. Think about it carefully."

Lin Meijuan lowered her head, as if she hadn't heard what she said.

Hu Yuheng gave a cold laugh and didn't press the matter further.

She knew Lin Meijuan wouldn't speak so quickly.

"If you've made up your mind, you can contact me anytime."

After saying that, she stood up and walked out of the conversation room.

At that moment, Chen Dapeng was waiting in the corridor. When he saw Hu Yuheng come out, he quickly went up to him and asked a question.

"Director Hu, has she spoken?"

Hu Yuheng shook his head: "No. She won't speak so quickly. She still thinks Gu Huaiyuan can save her."

Chen Dapeng asked, "What if she doesn't say anything at all?"

Hu Yuheng chuckled: "Then let her think about it. Once she figures it out, she'll speak up. She's not saying anything now because she's still calculating whether Gu Huaiyuan will come to her rescue. When she realizes that Gu Huaiyuan can't rescue her, she'll tell you herself."

Chen Dapeng fell silent.

Hu Yuheng glanced at him: "Keep an eye on her, and call me anytime if anything happens."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards his office, but after taking a couple of steps, he stopped and added a sentence.

"What she needs now is not forcing her, but time for her to think things through."

Chen Dapeng stood in the corridor, looking at the closed door of the interview room.

He knew Hu Yuheng was right; what Lin Meijuan needed now was not to be forced, but time, and she was waiting.

If Gu Huaiyuan doesn't make a move soon, she won't be able to hold out for long.

He took out his phone, opened He Ying's WeChat, and sent a message: "Sister Ying, Lin Meijuan has been taken to the interrogation room, but she hasn't said a word."

He Ying replied, "No rush, give her time."

Chen Dapeng had just sent the message when his phone rang; it was his sister calling.

He answered the phone, but before he could even speak, Chen Yang's voice came from the other end: "Dapeng, why didn't you tell me about Lin Meijuan?"

Chen Dapeng was taken aback: "Sis, how did you know?"

Chen Yang's tone was a little angry, yet tinged with teasing: "Of course your wife told me. What? You've forgotten about your sister now that you have a wife?"

Chen Dapeng was a little embarrassed: "No... I was thinking that things weren't settled yet, and I would tell you when there was a result."

Chen Yang paused for a moment.

"How is she now?"

"The person has already arrived at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, but hasn't spoken."

"Then she still has concerns."

"Director Hu said he would give her time."

"Yes, let me know if you hear anything. I've spent a lot of time and effort trying to get close to her."

Chen Dapeng felt a little embarrassed.

"Okay, I got it, sis. Don't let it happen again."

Chen Yang smiled and said, "Good to know!"

……

The provincial government, Gu Huaiyuan's office.

When he saw the message from Lin Meijuan, his heart sank to the bottom.

The information is blank; there is no content.

He guessed that Lin Meijuan sent the message in a hurry and didn't have a chance to type it.

My first thought—something must have happened to her!

Gu Huaiyuan pondered for a long time, found Yang Xiujiang's number, pressed the dial button, and it was connected after two rings.

Yang Xiujiang's voice was low: "Old Gu, what's the matter?"

Gu Huaiyuan forced himself to calm down: "Lin Meijuan has been taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Gu Huaiyuan noticed that Yang Xiujiang's breathing was heavier than before.

After a long silence, Yang Xiujiang finally spoke: "Did she speak?"

"I don't know yet." Gu Huaiyuan paused for a moment. "Probably not yet. She's been with me for so long, I know her well enough. She won't reveal my secrets so quickly."

Yang Xiujiang asked, "Does she have any of your things?"

Gu Huaiyuan didn't hide anything: "Yes."

Yang Xiujiang's heart sank: "This is troublesome. If he betrays you, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

Both of them were fully aware of the situation, especially the lover—this is the most common tactic used by the disciplinary commission in handling cases…

Neither of them spoke, remaining silent for a long time, as if each were pondering something in their own mind.

Then, Gu Huaiyuan spoke up: "Should we ask our 'old boss' to step in?"

Yang Xiujiang was stunned: "Do you think he can step in?"

Gu Huaiyuan was unsure of himself. Wouldn't asking him to step forward at this time be like walking into a trap?

Finally, he said one sentence:

"I don't know. But if we don't ask him to step in, we really have no way out."